Guardians Of The Galaxy director speaks

Posting a statement on his Facebook page, Gunn refers to the split as a "breakup", calling both Wright and Marvel "friends" while admitting his sadness at seeing them go their different ways.

"Sometimes you have friends in a relationship. You love each of them dearly as individuals and think they’re amazing people," he writes, before adding:

"But little by little you realize, at heart, they aren’t meant to be together – not because there’s anything wrong with either of them, but they just don’t have personalities that mesh in a comfortable way."

Gunn also states that he feels that neither is to blame for the parting of the ways, concluding that "not everyone belongs in a relationship together. It doesn't mean they're not wonderful people."